NL Cy Young Award: Clayton Kershaw named finalist

The Baseball Writers Association of America on Wednesday announced the finalists for their major awards. Clayton Kershaw is one of three finalists for the National League Cy Young Award, along with R.A. Dickey of the New York Mets and Gio Gonzalez of the Washington Nationals.

This is the first year the BBWAA announced finalists for their awards ahead of time.

The top three in each league were announced for Rookie of the Year, Manager of the Year, and Cy Young Award, and the top five were announced for Most Valuable Player. The Cy Young Awards for both the National League and American League will be announced on Wednesday, Nov. 14, in a televised program beginning at 3 p.m. PT on MLB Network.

Kershaw, who captured the award last season with 27 of 32 first place votes, is the first Dodger to finish in the top three of Cy Young Award voting in consecutive seasons since Fernando Valenzuela in 1981-1982.

Kershaw was 14-9 with a 2.53 ERA this season, the second straight year he led the major leagues in ERA. He led the National League in both fWAR (6.2) and rWAR (5.5), and also led the NL in WHIP (1.023) for the second consecutive season. Kershaw's 229 strikeouts were second in the league, one behind NL leader Dickey.

Dodgers have finished in the top three in Cy Young Award voting 23 times.